# 2020–21 Minnesota Timberwolves season

The 2020–21 Minnesota Timberwolves season was the 32nd season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA) On February 21, 2021, the Timberwolves fired head coach Ryan Saunders after three seasons with the team. On the following day, Toronto Raptors assistant head coach Chris Finch was announced as the next head coach. After a loss to the Sacramento Kings on April 21, followed by the San Antonio Spurs defeating the Detroit Pistons the next day, the Timberwolves were eliminated from playoff contention for the third straight year.

## Draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School / club team |
| 1 | 1 | Anthony Edwards | Guard | United States | Georgia |
| 1 | 17 | Aleksej Pokuševski | Forward | Serbia | Olympiacos |
| 2 | 33 | Daniel Oturu | Center | United States | Minnesota |
Before the start of the 2020 NBA draft period, the Timberwolves' selection was held stuck as the #3 selection of the draft with their record being the third-worst of all NBA teams the prior season at 19–45 before the NBA suspended their season on March 12, 2020, and cancelled the rest of Minnesota's season by June 5. As a result, they held the best odds to move up at #1 alongside the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors for the 2020 draft, though also held odds to fall as low as the #6 pick of the draft. This year, the Timberwolves ended the 2020 NBA draft lottery with the #1 selection, moving up two spots from their initial projection. In addition to their first-round pick, the Timberwolves also held their second-round pick and gained a first-round picks from a previous trade involving the Brooklyn Nets. They traded the Number 17 pick and James Johnson for Ricky Rubio, the number 25 and 28 overall picks. They then traded the number 25 and 33 overall picks for the 23rd overall pick.

## Standings
### Division

| Northwest Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP |
| z – Utah Jazz | 52 | 20 | .722 | – | 31‍–‍5 | 21‍–‍15 | 7–5 | 72 |
| x – Denver Nuggets | 47 | 25 | .653 | 5.0 | 25‍–‍11 | 22‍–‍14 | 9–3 | 72 |
| x – Portland Trail Blazers | 42 | 30 | .583 | 10.0 | 20‍–‍16 | 22‍–‍14 | 6–6 | 72 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 23 | 49 | .319 | 29.0 | 13‍–‍23 | 10‍–‍26 | 5–7 | 72 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 22 | 50 | .306 | 30.0 | 10‍–‍26 | 12‍–‍24 | 3–9 | 72 |

### Conference

Western Conference :
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | GP |
| 1 | z – Utah Jazz * | 52 | 20 | .722 | – | 72 |
| 2 | y – Phoenix Suns * | 51 | 21 | .708 | 1.0 | 72 |
| 3 | x – Denver Nuggets | 47 | 25 | .653 | 5.0 | 72 |
| 4 | x – Los Angeles Clippers | 47 | 25 | .653 | 5.0 | 72 |
| 5 | y – Dallas Mavericks * | 42 | 30 | .583 | 10.0 | 72 |
| 6 | x – Portland Trail Blazers | 42 | 30 | .583 | 10.0 | 72 |
| 7 | x – Los Angeles Lakers | 42 | 30 | .583 | 10.0 | 72 |
| 8 | pi – Golden State Warriors | 39 | 33 | .542 | 13.0 | 72 |
| 9 | x – Memphis Grizzlies | 38 | 34 | .528 | 14.0 | 72 |
| 10 | pi – San Antonio Spurs | 33 | 39 | .458 | 19.0 | 72 |
| 11 | New Orleans Pelicans | 31 | 41 | .431 | 21.0 | 72 |
| 12 | Sacramento Kings | 31 | 41 | .431 | 21.0 | 72 |
| 13 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 23 | 49 | .319 | 29.0 | 72 |
| 14 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 22 | 50 | .306 | 30.0 | 72 |
| 15 | Houston Rockets | 17 | 55 | .236 | 35.0 | 72 |
Notes
* z – Clinched home court advantage for the entire playoffs
* c – Clinched home court advantage for the conference playoffs
* y – Clinched division title
* x – Clinched playoff spot
* pb – Clinched play-in spot
* o – Eliminated from playoff contention
* * – Division leader

## Game log
### Preseason

2020 preseason game log Total: 1–2 (Home: 0–2; Road: 1–0) :
Preseason: 1–2 (home: 0–2; road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
December 12
Memphis
L 105–107
Jaylen Nowell (22)
Karl-Anthony Towns (8)
Malik Beasley (3)
Target Center 0
0–1
2
December 14
Memphis
L 104–123
D'Angelo Russell (19)
Karl-Anthony Towns (9)
Karl-Anthony Towns (5)
Target Center 0
0–2
3
December 17
@ Dallas
W 129–127
Karl-Anthony Towns (20)
Malik Beasley (11)
Ricky Rubio (4)
American Airlines Center 0
1–2 :
2020–21 season schedule :

### Regular season

2020–21 game log Total: 23–49 (Home: 13–23; Road: 10–26) :
December: 2–2 (home: 1–0; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
December 23
Detroit
W 111–101
Malik Beasley (23)
Karl-Anthony Towns (11)
Karl-Anthony Towns (7)
Target Center 0
1–0
2
December 26
@ Utah
W 116–111
D'Angelo Russell (25)
Karl-Anthony Towns (12)
D'Angelo Russell (6)
Vivint Smart Home Arena 0
2–0
3
December 27
@ L. A. Lakers
L 91–127
Anthony Edwards (15)
Jarred Vanderbilt (7)
Jarred Vanderbilt (6)
Staples Center 0
2–1
4
December 29
@ L. A. Clippers
L 101–124
D'Angelo Russell (22)
Jarrett Culver (10)
Jordan McLaughlin (9)
Staples Center 0
2–2 :
January: 3–12 (home: 3–7; road: 0–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
5
January 1
Washington
L 109–130
Malik Beasley (21)
Ed Davis (10)
Ricky Rubio (5)
Target Center 0
2–3
6
January 3
Denver
L 109–124
Malik Beasley (25)
Ed Davis (8)
D'Angelo Russell (7)
Target Center 0
2–4
7
January 5
@ Denver
L 116–123
D'Angelo Russell (33)
Willy Hernangómez (8)
D'Angelo Russell (11)
Ball Arena 0
2–5
8
January 7
@ Portland
L 117–135
Anthony Edwards (26)
Jarred Vanderbilt (10)
Ricky Rubio (10)
Moda Center 0
2–6
9
January 9
San Antonio
L 122–125 (OT)
Malik Beasley (29)
Karl-Anthony Towns (13)
Ricky Rubio (8)
Target Center 0
2–7
10
January 10
San Antonio
W 96–88
D'Angelo Russell (27)
Willy Hernangómez (8)
Ricky Rubio (6)
Target Center 0
3–7
11
January 13
Memphis
L 107–118
Malik Beasley (28)
Karl-Anthony Towns (14)
D'Angelo Russell (8)
Target Center 0
3–8
January 15
Memphis
Postponed (COVID-19) (Makeup date: May 5)
12
January 18
@ Atlanta
L 97–108
D'Angelo Russell (31)
Jarred Vanderbilt (8)
D'Angelo Russell (7)
State Farm Arena 0
3–9
13
January 20
Orlando
L 96–97
D'Angelo Russell (19)
Jaden McDaniels (8)
Jordan McLaughlin (7)
Target Center 0
3–10
14
January 22
Atlanta
L 98–116
Malik Beasley (17)
Naz Reid (8)
McLaughlin, Rubio (5)
Target Center
3–11
15
January 23
New Orleans
W 120–110
Naz Reid (20)
Jarred Vanderbilt (11)
Ricky Rubio (7)
Target Center 0
4–11
16
January 25
@ Golden State
L 108–130
Malik Beasley (30)
Naz Reid (10)
Ricky Rubio (11)
Chase Center 0
4–12
17
January 27
@ Golden State
L 111–123
Beasley, Edwards (25)
Vanderbilt, Reid (7)
Rubio, McLaughlin (5)
Chase Center 0
4–13
18
January 29
Philadelphia
L 94–118
Malik Beasley (22)
Ed Davis (8)
Ricky Rubio (5)
Target Center 0
4–14
19
January 31
Cleveland
W 109–104
Edwards, Beasley (23)
Jarred Vanderbilt (8)
Ricky Rubio (8)
Target Center 0
5–14 :
February: 2–14 (home: 0–5; road: 2–9)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
20
February 1
@ Cleveland
L 98–100
D'Angelo Russell (18)
Jarred Vanderbilt (9)
3 players (4)
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 0
5–15
21
February 3
@ San Antonio
L 108–111
Malik Beasley (29)
Reid, Vanderbilt (11)
Ricky Rubio (7)
AT&T Center 0
5–16
22
February 5
@ Oklahoma City
W 106–103
Malik Beasley (24)
Reid, Vanderbilt (9)
Ricky Rubio (8)
Chesapeake Energy Arena 0
6–16
23
February 6
@ Oklahoma City
L 118–120
Naz Reid (29)
Anthony Edwards (8)
Rubio, McLaughlin (6)
Chsesapeake Energy Arena 0
6–17
24
February 8
@ Dallas
L 122–127
Malik Beasley (30)
Malik Beasley (9)
Ricky Rubio (7)
American Airlines Center 1,000
6–18
25
February 10
L. A. Clippers
L 112–119
Naz Reid (23)
Karl-Anthony Towns (10)
Ricky Rubio (10)
Target Center 0
6–19
26
February 12
@ Charlotte
L 114–120
Malik Beasley (31)
Karl-Anthony Towns (8)
Ricky Rubio (9)
Spectrum Center 0
6–20
27
February 14
@ Toronto
W 116–112
Towns, Beasley (20)
Karl-Anthony Towns (11)
Malik Beasley (6)
Amalie Arena 0
7–20
28
February 16
L. A. Lakers
L 104–112
Anthony Edwards (28)
Jarred Vanderbilt (13)
Ricky Rubio (8)
Target Center 0
7–21
29
February 17
Indiana
L 128–134 (OT)
Karl-Anthony Towns (30)
Karl-Anthony Towns (10)
Ricky Rubio (13)
Target Center 0
7–22
30
February 19
Toronto
L 81–86
Karl-Anthony Towns (19)
Karl-Anthony Towns (13)
Jordan McLaughlin (7)
Target Center 0
7–23
31
February 21
@ New York
L 99–103
Karl-Anthony Towns (27)
Karl-Anthony Towns (15)
Ricky Rubio (6)
Madison Square Garden 0
7–24
32
February 23
@ Milwaukee
L 112–139
Towns, Beasley (26)
Karl-Anthony Towns (8)
Karl-Anthony Towns (8)
Fiserv Forum 1,800
7–25
33
February 24
@ Chicago
L 126–133 (OT)
Malik Beasley (25)
Anthony Edwards (9)
Ricky Rubio (10)
United Center 0
7–26
34
February 27
@ Washington
L 112–128
Karl-Anthony Towns (23)
Jarred Vanderbilt (12)
Karl-Anthony Towns (5)
Capital One Arena 0
7–27
35
February 28
Phoenix
L 99–118
Anthony Edwards (24)
Karl-Anthony Towns (10)
Ricky Rubio (6)
Target Center 0
7–28 :
March: 5–8 (home: 3–5; road: 2–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
36
March 3
Charlotte
L 102–135
Ricky Rubio (20)
Karl-Anthony Towns (15)
Ricky Rubio (9)
Target Center 0
7–29
37
March 11
@ New Orleans
W 135–105
Jaylen Nowell (28)
Karl-Anthony Towns (7)
Ricky Rubio (8)
Smoothie King Center 3,700
8–29
38
March 13
Portland
L 121–125
Karl-Anthony Towns (34)
Karl-Anthony Towns (10)
Ricky Rubio (8)
Target Center 0
8–30
39
March 14
Portland
W 114–112
Anthony Edwards (34)
Karl-Anthony Towns (8)
Karl-Anthony Towns (8)
Target Center 0
9–30
40
March 16
@ L. A. Lakers
L 121–137
Towns, Edwards (29)
Karl-Anthony Towns (6)
Ricky Rubio (12)
Staples Center 0
9–31
41
March 18
@ Phoenix
W 123–119
Anthony Edwards (42)
Karl-Anthony Towns (10)
Karl-Anthony Towns (8)
Phoenix Suns Arena 3,172
10–31
42
March 19
@ Phoenix
L 101–113
Karl-Anthony Towns (24)
Anthony Edwards (10)
Ricky Rubio (10)
Phoenix Suns Arena 3,124
10–32
43
March 22
Oklahoma City
L 103–112
Karl-Anthony Towns (33)
Karl-Anthony Towns (10)
Ricky Rubio (11)
Target Center 0
10–33
44
March 24
Dallas
L 108–128
Anthony Edwards (29)
Naz Reid (6)
Ricky Rubio (7)
Target Center 0
10–34
45
March 26
Houston
W 107–101
Karl-Anthony Towns (29)
Karl-Anthony Towns (16)
Rubio, Towns (8)
Target Center 0
11–34
46
March 27
Houston
L 107–129
Edwards, Towns (27)
Karl-Anthony Towns (15)
Ricky Rubio (10)
Target Center 0
11–35
47
March 29
@ Brooklyn
L 107–112
Karl-Anthony Towns (31)
Karl-Anthony Towns (12)
Karl-Anthony Towns (5)
Barclays Center 1,732
11–36
48
March 31
New York
W 102–101
Anthony Edwards (24)
Karl-Anthony Towns (17)
Ricky Rubio (7)
Target Center 0
12–36 :
April: 8–8 (home: 5–2; road: 3–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
49
April 2
@ Memphis
L 108–120
Karl-Anthony Towns (30)
Karl-Anthony Towns (16)
Anthony Edwards (6)
Target Center 0
12–37
50
April 3
@ Philadelphia
L 113–122
Karl-Anthony Towns (39)
Karl-Anthony Towns (14)
Jordan McLaughlin (9)
Wells Fargo Center 3,071
12–38
51
April 5
Sacramento
W 116–106
D'Angelo Russell (25)
Karl-Anthony Towns (13)
Edwards, Rubio, Towns (5)
Target Center 1,436
13–38
52
April 7
@ Indiana
L 137–141
Karl-Anthony Towns (32)
Karl-Anthony Towns (12)
Ricky Rubio (7)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse Limited seating
13–39
53
April 9
@ Boston
L 136–145 (OT)
Karl-Anthony Towns (30)
Karl-Anthony Towns (12)
D'Angelo Russell (8)
TD Garden 2,298
13–40
54
April 11
Chicago
W 121–117
Russell, Towns (27)
Karl-Anthony Towns (12)
Ricky Rubio (9)
Target Center 1,436
14–40
April 12
Brooklyn
Postponed (Killing of Daunte Wright) (Makeup date: April 13)
55
April 13
Brooklyn
L 97–127
Anthony Edwards (27)
Anthony Edwards (8)
Jarred Vanderbilt (3)
Target Center 0
14–41
56
April 14
Milwaukee
L 105–130
Anthony Edwards (24)
Naz Reid (15)
D'Angelo Russell (6)
Target Center 0
14–42
57
April 16
Miami
W 119–111
Karl-Anthony Towns (24)
Naz Reid (7)
Edwards, Towns, Russell (5)
Target Center 1,638
15–42
58
April 18
@ L. A. Clippers
L 105–124
Anthony Edwards (23)
Naz Reid (7)
Rubio, Towns (5)
Staples Center 1,734
15–43
59
April 20
@ Sacramento
W 134–120
Edwards, Russell (28)
Karl-Anthony Towns (18)
Ricky Rubio (11)
Golden 1 Center 0
16–43
60
April 21
@ Sacramento
L 125–128
Karl-Anthony Towns (26)
Naz Reid (7)
D'Angelo Russell (9)
Golden 1 Center 0
16–44
61
April 24
@ Utah
W 101–96
Karl-Anthony Towns (24)
Karl-Anthony Towns (12)
Anthony Edwards (4)
Vivint Arena 5,546
17–44
62
April 26
Utah
W 105–104
Karl-Anthony Towns (21)
Karl-Anthony Towns (11)
D'Angelo Russell (12)
Target Center 1,638
18–44
63
April 27
@ Houston
W 114–107
Karl-Anthony Towns (31)
Anthony Edwards (9)
D'Angelo Russell (7)
Toyota Center 3,225
19–44
64
April 29
Golden State
W 126–114
Ricky Rubio (26)
Karl-Anthony Towns (11)
D'Angelo Russell (8)
Target Center 1,638
20–44 :
May: 3–5 (home: 1–4; road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
65
May 1
@ New Orleans
L 136–140
Anthony Edwards (29)
Karl-Anthony Towns (14)
D'Angelo Russell (11)
Target Center 1,638
20–45
66
May 5
Memphis
L 135–139
Anthony Edwards (42)
Naz Reid (7)
D'Angelo Russell (14)
Target Center 1,436
20–46
67
May 7
@ Miami
L 112–121
Karl-Anthony Towns (27)
Jarred Vanderbilt (11)
Ricky Rubio (9)
American Airlines Arena Limited seating
20–47
68
May 9
@ Orlando
W 128–96
Russell, Towns (27)
Anthony Edwards (10)
D'Angelo Russell (7)
Amway Center 4,086
21–47
69
May 11
@ Detroit
W 119–100
Karl-Anthony Towns (28)
Towns, Vanderbilt (8)
D'Angelo Russell (10)
Little Caesars Arena 750
22–47
70
May 13
Denver
L 103–114
Anthony Edwards (29)
Karl-Anthony Towns (11)
Edwards, Rubio (5)
Target Center 1,638
22–48
71
May 15
Boston
L 108–124
Karl-Anthony Towns (24)
Karl-Anthony Towns (14)
Edwards, Russell (6)
Target Center 1,638
22–49
72
May 16
Dallas
W 136–121
Anthony Edwards (30)
Jarred Vanderbilt (12)
D'Angelo Russell (10)
Target Center 1,638
23–49 :
2020–21 season schedule :

## Player statistics
### Regular season

| Player | POS | GP | GS | MP | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | MPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Anthony Edwards | SG | 72 | 55 | 2,314 | 336 | 211 | 82 | 36 | 1,392 | 32.1 | 4.7 | 2.9 | 1.1 | .5 | 19.3 |
| Naz Reid | C | 70 | 15 | 1,347 | 322 | 72 | 34 | 76 | 784 | 19.2 | 4.6 | 1.0 | .5 | 1.1 | 11.2 |
| Ricky Rubio | PG | 68 | 51 | 1,772 | 223 | 433 | 98 | 4 | 582 | 26.1 | 3.3 | 6.4 | 1.4 | .1 | 8.6 |
| Jarred Vanderbilt | PF | 64 | 30 | 1,139 | 368 | 76 | 64 | 46 | 344 | 17.8 | 5.8 | 1.2 | 1.0 | .7 | 5.4 |
| Jaden McDaniels | PF | 63 | 27 | 1,511 | 232 | 71 | 35 | 60 | 427 | 24.0 | 3.7 | 1.1 | .6 | 1.0 | 6.8 |
| Josh Okogie | SG | 59 | 37 | 1,197 | 156 | 63 | 54 | 28 | 316 | 20.3 | 2.6 | 1.1 | .9 | .5 | 5.4 |
| Juancho Hernangómez | PF | 52 | 6 | 900 | 205 | 35 | 19 | 7 | 375 | 17.3 | 3.9 | .7 | .4 | .1 | 7.2 |
| Jordan McLaughlin | PG | 51 | 2 | 938 | 108 | 193 | 51 | 6 | 256 | 18.4 | 2.1 | 3.8 | 1.0 | .1 | 5.0 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | C | 50 | 50 | 1,689 | 529 | 225 | 39 | 57 | 1,239 | 33.8 | 10.6 | 4.5 | .8 | 1.1 | 24.8 |
| Jake Layman | SF | 45 | 11 | 627 | 67 | 28 | 29 | 19 | 231 | 13.9 | 1.5 | .6 | .6 | .4 | 5.1 |
| D'Angelo Russell | PG | 42 | 26 | 1,196 | 111 | 244 | 45 | 18 | 796 | 28.5 | 2.6 | 5.8 | 1.1 | .4 | 19.0 |
| Jaylen Nowell | SG | 42 | 0 | 759 | 95 | 62 | 22 | 12 | 379 | 18.1 | 2.3 | 1.5 | .5 | .3 | 9.0 |
| Malik Beasley | SG | 37 | 36 | 1,214 | 162 | 88 | 30 | 7 | 724 | 32.8 | 4.4 | 2.4 | .8 | .2 | 19.6 |
| Jarrett Culver | SG | 34 | 7 | 499 | 104 | 24 | 17 | 9 | 180 | 14.7 | 3.1 | .7 | .5 | .3 | 5.3 |
| Ed Davis | C | 23 | 7 | 299 | 115 | 21 | 13 | 13 | 48 | 13.0 | 5.0 | .9 | .6 | .6 | 2.1 |
| Ashton Hagans | PG | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 |

## Transactions
### Trades

| November 19, 2020 | To Minnesota TimberwolvesDraft rights to Mathias Lessort 2023 second-round pick | To Los Angeles ClippersDraft rights to Daniel Oturu |
| November 20, 2020 (Three-team trade) | To Minnesota TimberwolvesDraft rights to Jaden McDaniels Ricky Rubio | To Oklahoma City ThunderDraft rights to Aleksej Pokuševski James Johnson 2024 second-round pick |
| To New York KnicksDraft rights to Immanuel Quickley |||
| November 19, 2020 | To Minnesota TimberwolvesEd Davis | To New York KnicksJacob Evans Omari Spellman 2026 second-round pick |

### Free agency
#### Re-signed

| Player | Signed |
| Malik Beasley | 4-year contract worth $60 million (November 25, 2020) |
| Juancho Hernangómez | 2-year contract worth $21 million (November 27, 2020) |
| Jordan McLaughlin | Two-way contract (December 17, 2020) |

#### Additions

| Player | Signed | Former team |
| Ashton Hagans | Two-way contract (November 19, 2020) | Kentucky Wildcats |
| Tyler Cook | Exhibit 10 contract (November 29, 2020) | Denver Nuggets |
| Ade Murkey | Exhibit 10 contract (December 2, 2020) | Denver Pioneers |
| Rondae Hollis-Jefferson | Exhibit 10 contract (December 3, 2020) | Toronto Raptors |
| Charlie Brown Jr. | Exhibit 10 contract (December 10, 2020) | Atlanta Hawks |
| Zylan Cheatham | Exhibit 10 contract (December 18, 2020) | Oklahoma City Thunder |

#### Subtractions

| Player | Reason left | New team |
| Ade Murkey | Waived (December 18, 2020) | Iowa Wolves |
| Zylan Cheatham | Waived (December 19, 2020) | Iowa Wolves |
| Charlie Brown Jr. | Waived (December 19, 2020) | Iowa Wolves |
| Tyler Cook | Waived (December 19, 2020) | Iowa Wolves |
| Rondae Hollis-Jefferson | Waived (December 19, 2020) | Portland Trail Blazers |
| Ashton Hagans | Waived (February 13, 2021) | — |